Portable music production apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a portable music production apparatus which a USB interface for connecting to a computer device, the apparatus comprises a first control element which is configured to provide a pitch bend functionality and a second control element which can be assigned to modulate any parameter a user desires like a modulation wheel. The apparatus can also be provided with additional programmable control elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A music production apparatus, comprising:
 a housing; 
 a first control element disposed on an exterior surface of the housing; 
 a second control element disposed on the exterior surface of the housing; 
 a controller disposed within the housing and connected to the first control element and the second control element; and 
 a USB connection configured to communicate an output from the controller to a connected external computer device and communicate one or more instructions from the connected external computer device to the controller; 
 wherein the controller is configured to receive an instruction indicating an audio parameter to assign to the second control element, and the controller further being configured to, upon receiving an input signal from the first control element, determine and output a pitch variation value through the USB connection and, upon receiving an input signal from the second control element, determine and output a modulation value for the assigned audio parameter through the USB connection; and 
 wherein the controller is configured to process and output only signals related to modulation and after-effects for music production, without generating primary audio signals from mechanical input actions; 
 and wherein the apparatus comprises no other connections to external devices besides the USB connection to the external computer device. 
 
     
     
       2. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a microcontroller. 
     
     
       3. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a power source. 
     
     
       4. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to receive power from the USB connection. 
     
     
       5. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first control element and the second control element comprise touch-sensitive interfaces. 
     
     
       6. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first control element and the second control element comprise one of a toggle, wheel, or joystick. 
     
     
       7. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more additional control elements connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to receive instructions to assign a different audio parameter to each of the one or more additional control elements, and upon receiving an input signal from the one or more additional control elements, to determine and output a modulation value for the corresponding assigned audio parameter through the USB connection. 
     
     
       8. A music production apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the one or more additional control elements comprise one or more potentiometers. 
     
     
       9. A music production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more aftertouch effect control elements which are force sensitive and which are connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to receive instructions indicating an effect to be applied to an audio parameter in response to receiving an input from the one or more aftertouch effect control elements, the controller being configured to modulate intensity of the effect in proportion to the force applied to the one or more aftertouch effect control elements. 
     
     
       10. A music production apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the effect is selected from one of a vibrato effect, a filter effect, a volume modulation effect, or a frequency modulation effect.